CLEARFIELD – County Solicitor Kim Kesner noted a number of delinquent hotel and lodge facilities that have not properly filed or paid its hotel tax at Tuesday’s Clearfield County Commissioner’s work session.
Kesner said the problem isn’t new but has been recurring.
He also noted several of the facilities failed to comply in the past and have been notified.
“For some, it’s not the first time they’ve been to this dance,” Kesner said.
According to Commissioner Joan Robinson McMillen, the delinquent facilities include the Days Inn, of Clearfield; Harbaugh Properties, of Cherry Tree; the Electric Avenue Motel, of Houtzdale; the Osceola Hotel, of Osceola Mills; and the Econo Lodge, also of Clearfield.
Commissioner Mark McCracken said Sandy Fink-Barrett, director of the Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority, has a hotel tax committee in place.
He said the committee is made up of those who have “faithfully complied,” and the members have become disgusted by those who have failed to do so.
“They’re really withholding money that isn’t theirs,” McCracken said. “It’s not coming out of their operating budget.”
Kesner suggested the board look to implement a late fee and interest charge to any facility that disregards its hotel taxes.
McMillen also agreed the appropriate action should be taken.
“I think we should take the next step and go the district magistrate in their area,” she said.
She said the lack of compliance is unfair.
Click here to read a previous story about the Hotel Tax Committee’s concerns.